Container



CONTAINER Filed Oct. 15, 1934 Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE This invention relates to an improvement in containers for various articles such as cigarettes, cigars, matches, etc., being particularly directed to the provision of means for dispensing one article at a time from the container as desired.

The present embodiment of the invention discloses a container adapted for use in dispensing articles such as cigarettes, including cover means in the form of an ash receptacle and means for removably mounting the container in position ofuse.

In prior devices of this character, it has been.

found that considerable diillculty is encountered in their proper use. The operating mechanism. by which one article may be dispensed, either fails to deliver a single article or in so doing breaks or damages the articles remaining in the container. The more fragile articles to be dispensed from a device of this nature, such as cigao arettes, have a tendency to become packed or compressed in the container thus tending to prevent their downward movement by gravity into the dispensing mechanism. To insure proper feeding of one article after the other into 25 the dispensing mechanism, it is necessary that the articles within the container be agitated each time the dispensing mechanism is manipulated in order that one by one they may freely move into said mechanism. so The provision of a dispensing container which functions to deliver only one article at a time constitutes the principal object of the invention. Another object of the invention lies in the pro vision of a device of this character having means 25 by which to completely close access from the interior of the container to the delivery opening during the operation of dispensing one article. A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a device of this characterin which 40 an agitator functions to move all of the articles within the container during each dispensing operation.

A. still further object of the invention lies in the provision of a device of this character having 45 means for attachment to agenerally vertical surface by which to facilitate use thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration oi. the following specification taken in conjunc- 50 tion with the accompanying drawing and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying one form of this invention, showing means by which the container may be mounted;

65 Figure 2 is a perspective sectional view 01 the I! and i3 and rear wall ll.

container showing the dispensing and agitating mechanism;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of thecontainer partly in section to show the method of mounting the dispensing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a view of the agitator and dispensing mechanism removed from the container;

Figure- 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the pivotal support for the dispensing mechanism; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the container showing the dispensing mechanism in position to dispense one article and the agitator in position to move the contents of the container, the dotted line position being similar to the position of the mechanism as shown in Figure 2.

Reference is now had to the drawing in which is shown one modification of the invention in the form of a container generally indicated by the reference numeral Ill. The container may include a front wall ll connected by side walls The length of the walls enumerated is such as to accommodate articles desired to be dispensed. The upper opening of the container is closed by a cover l8. This cover may be provided with an inner flange I! which seats against the inner edges of the walls ll, [2, l3 and It. The cover includes a base wall l8 and may, as shown in the drawing, be provided with upwardly and inwardly directed walls which form a generally rectangular opening 2 I. Thus the cover may provide a compartment 22 in the form of an ash receiver. If the cover is thus used and the container I0 is formed from material other than metal, it will be found desirable to provide a metal liner to prevent charring or burning of the walls of the receiver." It is also contemplated that the walls 20 of the cover may provide a receiver for loose matches or a box of matches, this being optional with the user of the device. The bottom wall 24 of the container may be a continuation of the rear wall I4, being inclined, however, at an angle thereto and directed toward the lower edge of the front wall ll. of the bottom wall 24 is inwardly curved to provide a rolled bead 25. As hereinafter may be more fully understood, the bead 25 cooperates with a portion of the dispensing mechanism to prevent jambing and the consequent mutilation of articles within the container prior to their being dispensed. The space between the head 25 and the forward edge of wall 24 receives a dispensing mechanism for the container.

The front wall ll adjacent the termination The container dispensing mechanism 28 comprises end portions 21 each having an opening I. therethrough. The inner face of each of the portions 2'! is provided with a recess 29 concentric with the opening 20. Secured to or formed integral with the end portions 21 is an article receiver II which is proportioned to contain only one article at a time of the class of articles to be dispensed from the container. The rear wall I! of the receiver II is somewhat enlarged to form a bead 38. One or more transverse notches 34 are cut transversely of the bead. Adjacent the forward edge of the article receiver is a rib "which constitutes the means bywhich the dispensing mechanism may be manipulated. The

end walls I! and II are formed with openings 38 which correspond in size with the openings 2| in the end portions 21 of the dispensing mechanism I. A pin 38 having a head 40 is inserted from the inner face of the portion 21 through wall n.

the openings 28 and ll, the head 40 being of a size to fit the recess 2! in the portion 21. The pins 39 constitute the pivotal support for rotational manipulation of the dispensing mechanism. It will be noted that the rear wall 32 of the receiver 8| lies adjacent the lowermost edge of the inclined wall 24 of the container and that the forward wall directly above the rib 38 is ad- Jacent the lower thickened portion of the front Thus the lower opening of the container is effectually closed. Now it is desired that the dispensing mechanism after being manually actuated returnto its position of disuse to close the dispensing opening of the container III. To accomplish this a comparatively heavy weight 42 is located on the underside of the dispensing mechanism directly beneath the pins 39.

An agitator plate 43 is located within the container on the inclined wall 24 thereof. This agitator is tapered having a knife-like rear edge 44 and a comparatively thick front edge 45. Projecting from the front edge 4! are arms 46 which enter the recesses 34 of the head 33. A pin 41 or other pivotal means connects the arms 48 with the bead 31.

It is contemplated that this device is well adapted as a container for cigarettes and that it may be conveniently mounted on any generally upright wall. The rear wall I4 is, therefore, provided with a pair of angle plates 48 from which outwardly extending lugs 49 project. Each lug is formed with an opening III. A bracket 5| having side flanges 52 is located in the space between the lugs 49 and suitable pins II pivotally secure the bracket to the container. Slots or other openings 54 may be provided in the bracket II by means of which said bracket may be engaged with any suitable wall through the use of screws. It is contemplated that a device of this character may be mounted on a table standard which may be connected with the bracket 5| or directly to the side walls I! and I3 in the container.

The dispensing mechanism when not in use occupies the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the agitator plate .43 lying on the inclined wall ,24 with its edge 44 adjacent the connection of the wall 24 with the wall I4. The receiver 3i closes the lower opening of the container iii. The cover l6 may be removed and articles such as cigarettes 55, shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, inserted. The cigarettes will drop down the inclined surface of the plate 43, one falling into the receiver 3|. The cover is 'againplacedonthecontainerandthedeviceis" ready for operation.

To deliver the cigarette located in the receiver Ii itis merely necessary to rotate the dispensing mechanism about the pins II by pressing rearwardly upon rib II. an opening between the front edge of the receiver and'the bead 2i and allows the cigarette to drop into the hand of'the operator. Simultaneously with the delivery of the cigarette, the rear wall I! of the receiver has moved upwardly and forwardly carrying with it the agitator plate 43. The cigarettes remaining in the container and lying upon the plate 48 are lifted away from the dispensing mechanism. The cigarette next in order to be dispensed, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6, does not lie upon the plate 43. The head 33, however, of the dispensing mechanism strikes this cigarette moving it over the bead 25 and upwardly along the curved surface of the wall ll elevating this cigarette by means of head 38 and the remainder of the cigarettes by plate 43 agitates all of the cigarettes in the container sumciently to prevent their becoming packed or compressed. Upon the delivery of a cigarette the operator removes his hand from the rib ll. The weight 42 now functions to rotate the receiver about the pins It to close This movement provides the delivery opening of the container moving the dispensing mechanism again to the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. Since the receiver 3! has been emptied another cigarette will move by gravity thereinto and the device is again ready for use.

It will be noted that the forward edge of the agitator plate 4! contacts the curved wall of the rear wall 32 of the receiver 3| when said receiver is rotated to dispense an article (see Figure 6). Inasmuch as oscillation of the receiver is in the form of a flipping motion, the forward edge of plate 43 strikes the receiver and the rear edge of said plate is thereby P lected or flipped upwardly causing the articles thereon to be tumbled and moved by gravity down the inclined surface of the plate.

Although applicant has shown and described only one modification of a container and dispensing mechanism for articles it is contemplated that other modifications or adaptations of the structure herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a dispensing container having a delivery opening, a mechanism for dispensing articles from said container, said mechanism being located in said opening and comprising an article receiver, means pivotally supporting said receiver, said receiver being rotatable to close said delivery opening, a plate in said container constituting a. false base thereto, means pivotally connecting the forward edge of said plate to the rear edge of said receiver, said plate, during one complete oscillation of said receiver, being constrained to move forwardly and upwardly from oil the base wall of the container whereby to agitate or tumble articles in the container during each dispensing operation.

2. In a. dispensing container having a delivery opening, a mechanism for dispensing articles from said container, said mechanism being located in said opening and comprising an article receiver, means pivotally supporting said receiver, said receiver being rotatable to close said delivery opening, a plate in said container constituting a false base thereto, means connecting the forward edge of said plate to the rear edge of said receiver, said means providing limited pivotal movement between said receiver and said plate whereby, during oscillation of said receiver to dispense an article, said plate will be momentarily raised from off the base wall of the container for the purpose of agitating and moving articles within the container downwardly along said plate 5 toward said receiver.

CONRAD W. JOHNSON.--- 

